There has been a dramatic and consistent drop in smoking after large excise increases and the fall continued after the introduction of plain packaging in 2012.

The number of Australians smoking cigarettes has plunged from 18.9 per cent in 2008 to 15.2 per cent, and those still smoking are smoking two fewer cigarettes a day.

Sixty per cent of Australians drink alcohol each week, down from 63.6 per cent in 2008, and we’re drinking on average one less glass a week.

The survey of 50,000 Australians found improvements in five of the seven measures of health and wellbeing, but it shows we’re losing the battle of the bulge and our mental wellbeing is in decline.

Almost two in three adults are overweight (61 per cent), they are carrying 180,000 tonnes of extra weight and it’s rising by 5000 tonnes a year.

The overweight Aussie weighs on average 16.5kg too much.

The weight is going on even though we’re exercising more.

The survey found 48.5 per cent of Australians now do some formal exercise such as attending a gym, aerobics, running and cycling — up from 45.4 per cent in 2008.

Say goodbye to the bottle ... 60 per cent of Australians drink alcohol each week, down from 63.6 per cent in 2008.Source:ThinkStock

We’re eating less fast food and fewer luxuries like sweets and chocolate, but only four per cent of us are eating the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables a day.

More than 13 million of us caught a cold, a flu or an allergy in the last year and 9.3 million of us suffered from a digestive problem, more than half the population suffers from a bone or muscle problem and 39 per cent of us suffer back pain.

On average Aussies fell ill 11 times in the last 12 months, the survey found.

Roy Morgan research chief executive Michelle Levin says the most worrying aspect of the survey is the mental decline of the nation.

Smoking is down ... the number of Australians smoking cigarettes has plunged from 18.9 per cent in 2008 to 15.2 per cent.Source:News Limited

The number of people suffering anxiety leapt from 9 per cent in 2007 to 15.5 per cent this year.

The increase almost exactly mirrored the increase in the number of people who were unemployed or underemployed, she said.

The survey had identified a pocket of health pain that was not at the forefront of the public debate — the mental health problems of younger, poorer Australians.

The mental health index showed the over-65s scored well at 103 but the under 23-year-olds scored just 95, she said.

“Younger, poorer people are really struggling and this feeds into drugs and unemployment,” she said.